Blackjack is undoubtedly one of the world’s best and most popular card games and it’s no surprise to see that it’s featured in many great movies but there also countless books about blackjack and here we take a look at some of the best. Blackjack’s glamour has made it a great subject for fictional movies but when it comes to books, our focus is much more on non-fiction: if you like playing blackjack in the casino, check these books out!

Beat the Dealer by Edward O Thorp

Whilst there have subsequently been better books published, this is a must-read because this was really where it all began. Thorp’s book was the first to go public with the concept of card counting and it remains an absolute blackjack classic, both for its historical significance and in its own right.

Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich

Having said the focus here was primarily non-fiction, this is the one book that perhaps blurs the lines somewhat, with there being no doubt that much of Mezrich’s romping tale has certainly been subject to at least a little poetic license. That said, this book, full title Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, is enough to encourage almost anyone that reads it to give card counting at least a superficial try and is a fabulously entertaining read. The film 21 was an adaptation of this book and there is no doubt that the tale of the MIT kids who took Vegas for a not-so-small fortune is must-read material.

Blackjack Wisdom by Arnold Snyder

Another that blurs the lines a little, this book is a collection of magazine pieces by Snyder covering a range of blackjack topics that isn’t too heavy and is a great book to dip in and out of.

Hollywood Blackjack by “Hollywood” Dave Stann

If you like cussing in books, this may be the read for you, with larger-than-life Stann talking about his life in blackjack and offering practical advice about the game, counting and the math behind it. A good book for a beginner with a nice blend of blackjack information, if you intend to take your counting skills into the casino this could well be the blackjack book for you.